A project to develop a new 200-unit apartment complex in Lincoln Township is on hold while the developers seek to resolve issues with a state tax incentive.
Great Lakes Capital out of South Bend proposed the Red Arrow Bluffs apartment complex for 3822 Red Arrow Highway last year. That’s the site of the former Snowflake Motel.
Red Arrow Bluffs was well-received when introduced last year, seemingly on a fast track to approval, when Lincoln Township Trustees in January of this year tabled a proposed Tax Increment Financing plan for it. At the time, they said they wanted to research a policy on recouping public safety revenue lost as a result of the TIF. There’s been no action since, and now Great Lakes Capital’s Isaac Hall tells us the project is on pause due to that last minute issue.
Township trustees were told Tuesday the local brownfield authority has rescinded its recommendation to approve the development’s brownfield plan. However, Supervisor Glenn Youngstedt tells us he still wants to see Red Arrow Bluffs happen.
“Personally, I feel as if we should go full force with it,” Youngtedt said. “We need the housing in the community. I know of employers here in the township who have expressed their concern that we have affordable housing.”
Hall says the development will remain paused until the issue is smoothed out, although the company currently has no additional talks scheduled with the township.
Lincoln Township Trustee Marc Florian told us via email this month Red Arrow Bluffs is essentially “shelved.” He said in the absence of state incentives, the developers are unable to “make the township whole on the public safety mills that would be lost if this development were to proceed.”
We’re told Great Lakes Capital’s offer of a community benefits package to the township in exchange for the TIF didn’t satisfy the needs of some trustees. Youngstedt tells us he’s still hoping something can be worked out.
“I think many of the board members are very much in favor of getting this thing going,” Youngstedt said. “It’s just we have another issue.”
